Ladies’s basketball has by no means been larger than it’s proper now. For that, we are able to thank stars who’ve develop into family names: Caitlin Clark, Breanna Stewart, Sabrinna Ionescu, Paige Bueckers, and A’ja Wilson. All of whom, I ought to point out, have their very own signature footwear.
Final 12 months, the WNBA delivered its most-watched common season in 24 years, and it feels secure to imagine they don’t seem to be slowing down anytime quickly. This 12 months’s common season begins in 10 days, and A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces dropped her extremely anticipated collab with Nike at this time to get us overvalued simply in time.
The A’One ($110, nike.com), a efficiency basketball sneaker, is the primary customized shoe she’s designed with the model, however (spoiler) we hope it’s not her final.
Wilson has earned two WNBA rings, two Olympic gold medals, an NCAA title and three WNBA MVP awards, so I feel she is aware of a factor or two about cozy activewear that enhances your recreation. As a retired school athlete and a giant fan of Nike’s signature basketball footwear—I wore the Kobe A.D. (2016), Kobe A.D. (2018), KD Trey 5 VIII, and LeBron Witness 6’s all through my school profession—I needed to get my palms on the A’Ones to see what it is prefer to step into her footwear (actually). Many leisure volleyball and pick-up basketball video games later, I can confidently say I get what all the excitement is about.
Authentic picture by SELF affiliate social media editor Katie Gunderman
Authentic picture by SELF affiliate social media editor Katie Gunderman
The design
The A’One is designed to ship cushioning, traction, match and help— all of that are very important on the court docket. The shoe’s midsole has Cushlon ST2 foam, which supplies athletes a agency base for high-impact actions like operating, leaping, and pivoting, plus cushioned landings on the best way down. Even the outsole is supposed to grip the ground for extra exact lateral actions.
My favourite half: The shoe launches within the Pink A’ura colorway, a daring, fiery alternative that encapsulates Wilson’s Leo vitality (and makes me really feel like I’m That Lady on the court docket). Different private touches embody pearlescent particulars that pay tribute to Wilson’s grandmother, Celtic symbols as a nod to her mother and father, and her favourite submit recreation quote on the heel: “Weak spot, weak point. We don’t have time for that.”
